BOOTAN, 
395 
pounds of fresh root produced from one plant; but, after drying it with 
much care and attention, the weight of the dried root could not be made 
less than twelve pounds. It was suspended in an oven, with an equal 
and moderate degree of heat. Little more than the same quantity of 
this powder, produced a similar effect with the best foreign rhubarb. 
The other plants common here, are the service tree, blessed thistle, 
mock orange, Spiraea filipendula, Arum, Echites, Punica, Ferula com¬ 
munis, Erica, and Viola. Of the rose bush, I have met with the five fol¬ 
lowing species; Rosa alpina, centilblia, canina, indica, spinocissima. 
The culture of pot-herbs is every where neglected; turnips, a few 
onions and shallots, were the best we could procure. Mr. Bogle left 
potatoes, cabbage, and lettuce plants, all which we found neglected 
and dispersed. They had very improperly (from an idea, most pro¬ 
bably, of their being natives of Bengal) planted them in a situation, 
and climate, which approaches very near to that of Bengal at all 
seasons, as we shall find afterwards. Melons, gourds, brinjals, and 
cucumbers, are occasionally to be met with. The country is fitted for 
the production of every fruit and vegetable, common without the 
tropics, and in some situations, will bring to perfection many of tha 
tropical fruits. 
There are two plants, which I have to regret the not having had as 
yet an opportunity of seeing; one is the tree, from the bark of which 
their paper is made; and the other is employed by them in poisoning 
their arrows. This last is said >to come from a very remote part of the 
country. They describe it, as growing to the height of three or four 
feet, with a hollow stalk. The juice is inspissated, and laid as a paste 
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